Hedgehog Care Page
What is a Hedgehog? Hedgehogs are a small, insectivorous (insect eating) mammal that can be
found throughout the world. They are native to England, Europe, Africa and Asia. The hedgehog
that is now kept as a pet in North America is the Pygmy Hedgehog from Central Africa.
Since there are no native species of hedgehog in either Canada or the United States, many people
still mistake the domestic hedgehog for the porcupine - an entirely different and unrelated animal.
While porcupine quills are extremely sharp, barbed and very dangerous, the hedgehog quill is
smooth and not nearly as sharp. Petting a friendly hedgehog can be compared to petting a
hairbrush - bristly, not prickly.
The average African Pygmy Hedgehog weighs about ½ to 1 ¼ pounds and is 5 to 8 inches long -
about the size of a Guinea Pig. There are some that will grow to as much as 1 ¾ to 2 pounds
(without being fat) while others are as little as 6 or 7 ounces.
Your pet should be kept indoors at normal room temperature (65 to 80*F); can be fed a good
quality dry cat food or a specially formulated hedgehog food.
Your hedgehog will require a secure home since they are very good climbers and can easily
escape from open-topped cages that are designed for animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits. If
you do use a cage with an open top, it must have slippery sides that are at least 12" high and a
floor space of at least 24” x 24”. It must also have good circulation and be well lit but not exposed
to direct sunlight during the daytime.
In addition to a cage, your hedgehog will require the following accessories:
BEDDING: Aspen, Pine or White shavings (NOT CEDAR!) are by far the best choice for bedding
material. Crushed corn cob makes a relatively good bedding and is safe to use for females and
adults, but it SHOULD NOT be used for young male hedgehogs. Place approximately two inches of
bedding material evenly over the floor of the cage.
FOOD BOWL: The food bowl needs to be fairly wide and heavy to prevent your pet from dumping
out its contents and using it as a toy. Small ceramic crocks that are designed for small rodents are
perfect food dishes for hedgehogs. The width or diameter of the dish can be 3 to 6 inches and it
should be no more than 3 inches high.
WATER BOTTLE: Water bottles are preferred over open dishes. Hedgehogs love to fill open water
dishes with shavings and this prevents them from getting enough water to drink.
HIDING PLACE: This can be as simple as a piece of 4 inch PVC pipe, an old plastic pitcher, or an
old shoe box with a hole cut in one end. (this should be replaced every 2 to 3 weeks).
LITTER BOX: Your pet will use a litter box if you provide it with one. A small box that is 2” deep x 6”
x 9”, half filled with dust free cat litter does very nicely. Non-clumping cat litter is the safest choice.
TOYS: If you choose, you can also add a few toys for your hedgehog to play with. An exercise
wheel is an excellent addition and will help him to stay healthy and trim. Although a guinea pig
wheel will suffice, there are now specially designed Hedgehog Wheels available from many pet
suppliers. These are safer for your pet since they have a solid or mesh-covered running surface
rather than the more common metal bars which they sometimes get their long legs caught in.
Although there are hedgehog foods available in stores, dry cat and kitten formulas are equally
good choices. Whatever commercial food you choose should be supplemented by a variety of
other foods such as vegetables, mealworms and crickets, cooked meats and fruit and vegetables.
However none of these should be fed as anything more than a treat 3 or 4 times a week. The dry
food should be the staple. While the dry food can be fed free choice to all but the more obese
hedgehogs, the supplements should be offered for no more than 15 minutes and then removed.
found throughout the world. They are native to England, Europe, Africa and Asia. The hedgehog
that is now kept as a pet in North America is the Pygmy Hedgehog from Central Africa.
Since there are no native species of hedgehog in either Canada or the United States, many people
still mistake the domestic hedgehog for the porcupine - an entirely different and unrelated animal.
While porcupine quills are extremely sharp, barbed and very dangerous, the hedgehog quill is
smooth and not nearly as sharp. Petting a friendly hedgehog can be compared to petting a
hairbrush - bristly, not prickly.
The average African Pygmy Hedgehog weighs about ½ to 1 ¼ pounds and is 5 to 8 inches long -
about the size of a Guinea Pig. There are some that will grow to as much as 1 ¾ to 2 pounds
(without being fat) while others are as little as 6 or 7 ounces.
Your pet should be kept indoors at normal room temperature (65 to 80*F); can be fed a good
quality dry cat food or a specially formulated hedgehog food.
Your hedgehog will require a secure home since they are very good climbers and can easily
escape from open-topped cages that are designed for animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits. If
you do use a cage with an open top, it must have slippery sides that are at least 12" high and a
floor space of at least 24” x 24”. It must also have good circulation and be well lit but not exposed
to direct sunlight during the daytime.
In addition to a cage, your hedgehog will require the following accessories:
BEDDING: Aspen, Pine or White shavings (NOT CEDAR!) are by far the best choice for bedding
material. Crushed corn cob makes a relatively good bedding and is safe to use for females and
adults, but it SHOULD NOT be used for young male hedgehogs. Place approximately two inches of
bedding material evenly over the floor of the cage.
FOOD BOWL: The food bowl needs to be fairly wide and heavy to prevent your pet from dumping
out its contents and using it as a toy. Small ceramic crocks that are designed for small rodents are
perfect food dishes for hedgehogs. The width or diameter of the dish can be 3 to 6 inches and it
should be no more than 3 inches high.
WATER BOTTLE: Water bottles are preferred over open dishes. Hedgehogs love to fill open water
dishes with shavings and this prevents them from getting enough water to drink.
HIDING PLACE: This can be as simple as a piece of 4 inch PVC pipe, an old plastic pitcher, or an
old shoe box with a hole cut in one end. (this should be replaced every 2 to 3 weeks).
LITTER BOX: Your pet will use a litter box if you provide it with one. A small box that is 2” deep x 6”
x 9”, half filled with dust free cat litter does very nicely. Non-clumping cat litter is the safest choice.
TOYS: If you choose, you can also add a few toys for your hedgehog to play with. An exercise
wheel is an excellent addition and will help him to stay healthy and trim. Although a guinea pig
wheel will suffice, there are now specially designed Hedgehog Wheels available from many pet
suppliers. These are safer for your pet since they have a solid or mesh-covered running surface
rather than the more common metal bars which they sometimes get their long legs caught in.
Although there are hedgehog foods available in stores, dry cat and kitten formulas are equally
good choices. Whatever commercial food you choose should be supplemented by a variety of
other foods such as vegetables, mealworms and crickets, cooked meats and fruit and vegetables.
However none of these should be fed as anything more than a treat 3 or 4 times a week. The dry
food should be the staple. While the dry food can be fed free choice to all but the more obese
hedgehogs, the supplements should be offered for no more than 15 minutes and then removed.